There was a bustle of activity throughout the Hebrew Educational Society (H.E.S.), at 9502 Seaview Avenue, on Monday, January 19th, where a plethora of volunteers and community partners joined with staff for their Annual MLK Day of Service, observed in honor of slain civil rights leader and activist, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dressed in blue t-shirts with the slogan “Tolerance, Inclusion, Diversity” emblazoned on an image representing Dr. King, the volunteers, in his honor and the true spirit of community and service, rolled up their sleeves and set to work. They performed a wide range of activities which ran the gamut from preparing 1,000 customized care packages (to be distributed to various groups including shelters and schools) and packing 150 pantry food hampers (that were also delivered to clients in the community), to making 200 containers of vegetable soup, and baking dozens of cookies and 70 challah breads, for elderly residents at a senior home in Starrett City.
According to Jewish belief, the challah bread is plaited in three strands which symbolize truth, peace and justice, three keystones that embodied MLK’s unrelenting fight.
Some volunteers finger painted designs on paper plates, transforming them into artwork with a huge peace sign amid colors that depict black and brown communities. Others took turns painting a mural captioned “Dream, Create, Inspire,” which honored the enduring legacy of the civil rights activist. The overriding messages conveyed in the artwork were also of peace, justice and equality. “There was a dream that Martin Luther King had,” the art instructor stated. “We create and continue to inspire and brought the community in, so we could all do it together,” she added.
State Senator Roxanne Persaud, Assemblywoman Jaime Williams, representatives from the UJA-Federation and JCC of Bensonhurst also attended the special Day of Service. “It’s really important that we commemorate and celebrate the late, Dr. Martin Luther King,” Williams told the Canarsie Courier. “It’s a day of reflection of all the things he fought for and stood up for. We’re seeing a drastic change throughout the United States of America, and we can’t sit down and take that lightly,” she added, emphasizing, “the fight continues.”
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice,” Dr. King declared in one of his many iconic speeches. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer once referred to the legendary pioneer as “exceptional, singular and unique,” because he is the only person in America to be memorialized with a federal holiday for just him.
Moshit Rivkin, executive director at the H.E.S., expressed her gratitude to everyone for their participation and support in commemorating the special Day of Service. “I am proud to be part of this incredible day and inspired by our community’s continued commitment to service, unity and compassion,” she stated.
